Installation Plant Overview

Developments in pile shape and width has driven installation plant improvements but in the last decade improvements in plant have gathered momentum and made a steep change. In the 1950’s steam hammers were replaced with air hammers (by virtue of the developments in air compressors), they were noisy and not very efficient. Later diesel hammers were developed, which were more powerful, could drive piles into almost any strata but are noisy and environmentally unsuitable.

Regrettably, clients and consultants who are not regularly involved with sheet pile structures still associated these antiquated methods with sheet pile projects not realising how much things have changed. Today there are several options available for the driving of steel piles each with their own advantages: